One thing to watch for the weeks to come. As B117 is rare for now, it’s emergence really does give us a better sense of the epi links occurring around us. With so much circulating COVID normally it’s hard to necessarily pick out where it came from

So if I get B117, there’s only a certain number of cases in the community. With enhanced contact tracing it should be easier to highlight the chain of transmission given they will all be B117. Similarly outbreaks have a common link.

A lot of people do blame their COVID on the grocery store or some public facing setting, but in reality there are other contacts. This is now easier to highlight

Similarly as we open schools - this may also highlight what the role schools have in comm transmission

One thing though for sure is we are seeing b117 circulate in ltc and essential work places. And that’s easy to predict but creates challenges. Ltc will hopefully have the benefit of vaccination soon, but workers will not for a couple months.

I think what we’re going to see for the weeks ahead is how much essential workplaces bear the brunt of regular covid and B117 given no new controls or sick leave pay. It will enter our communities and amplify. And it’s preventable. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-by-ignoring-essential-workers-were-missing-the-mark-on-our-efforts-to/